Certified Nursing Assistant Program

The program is aimed at developing a set of employable skills among underemployed and unemployed residents in the West Alabama Region.

This program is designed to:

Address the shortage of Nurses and Nursing Assistants in rural communities.

Help enhance the level of quality healthcare in rural areas.

Help reduce the number of individuals who depend upon welfare and other social programs.

Have a positive economic impact on depressed communities.

The CNA Training Program is one of several programs aiming to strengthen the workforce in West Alabama. The creation of short-term programs like the CNA Program successfully helps individuals gain quick entry into the marketplace and among the regional workforce.

The theoretical and practical curriculum used focuses on the skills required to obtain a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. It is designed to provide a wide range of opportunities that will improve the self-sufficiency of low-income students and enhance their ability to sustain long-term employment. The curriculum for the class includes a total of 75 clock hours, including 55 hours in a classroom setting and 20 hours in a clinical setting (nursing home/assisted living facility).

The course work is designed to help students develop the skills needed by long-term care nursing assistants in preparation for certification. The curriculum places emphasis on infection control, safety, body mechanics, communications, observation, abuse, and the elderly.

Classroom instruction focus on grasping theory while laboratory and clinical practice will gives hands-on experience. The following are some of the things you will know once you complete a nurse aide training course:

How to provide basic care to adults of various ages

Ways to ensure patient safety

Preventing and controlling infection for both yourself and the client

Proper body mechanics and mobility techniques to prevent injury

Effective communication

How to assist your patients with daily living activities

Proper feeding techniques for each client condition

Main health issues faced by adults in long-term care facilities

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support

Taking vital signs

Techniques for moving and ambulating clients

Basic hygiene skills

Proper client documentation and reporting

Regional and Professional Outlook

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs), also known as nurse’s aides, patient care technicians, and home health aides work under the supervision of a licensed nurse to provide patients with assistance in carrying out daily tasks.

Job projections for nursing assistants look very good for the near future. There is an expected 21%-35% growth in the job market over the next decade. This increase is attributed to the growing demand for long-term care from the older population. A shortage of nurses and nursing assistants in some areas has led some hospitals and other employers in these areas to offer flexible work schedules, educational benefits, higher pay, and other incentives to retain existing staff and for recruiting. As a result, nursing homes and long-term care facilities will no doubt continue to be major employers. Working in healthcare is also one of the most rewarding and challenging of all professions. One has the opportunity to promote health, serve humanity, and experience the self-satisfaction of a great career.

According to the Alabama Workforce Investment Advisory (WIA Program studies have shown healthcare services and healthcare support jobs to have the highest growth in Southwest Alabama from 2004 to 2014. Preparing a trained workforce that possesses the right skills begins with individuals participating in educational and occupational programs that prepare them for entry-level employment.